Poker is illegal in Israel. Those caught playing in a poker game face up to a year in prison for the first offense, and those caught organizing a game could be locked up for as many as three.

A new bill introduced by Likud party member Sharren Haskel, however, is looking to change that.

The bill follows a recent ruling by Israel Supreme Court Judge Neal Hendel, who stated in his decision that poker was a game of skill.

Well, it actually isn’t legal to play online poker in Israel. Now some sites might do it illegally, but the handshake agreement is actually different than what you think. Online Poker in Israel. Online poker sites in Israel are not legal. Although there are no specific Israeli online poker laws, the general prohibition on gambling coming from the application of the Israeli Penal Law 5737 holds for this game too. However, not only is the law expected to change soon, as there are some independent Israeli online.

Current Israeli Law Re: Live Poker Israeli law prohibits pretty much all forms of gambling except for games run by the national lottery. Poker, unfortunately, is no exception to these rules, as clarified in a 2008 ruling by the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court (Hebrew only). Israel Poker News Jonathan 'luckyfish89' Clark Takes Down November PLB Title. Upeshka De Silva Leads After Day 1 Of WSOP Main Event on WSOP.com. Poker in Israel may soon become legal once again after a politician recently introduced a new bill that would see the game finally classified as a sport.

“The fact that the players go to contests and tournaments year after year strengthens the conclusion that it is not a game of luck,” he wrote.

If considered by the Knesset, the bill would allow the Israeli Poker Players Association to organize poker games, and authorize the Finance Ministry to regulate taxes.

There are no casinos in Israel, and most forms of gambling are outlawed, although there is state-run lottery and sports betting. In 2015, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu proposed the idea of authorizing a casino in the city of Eliat, which is home to a port that already launches gambling cruises into international waters. Texas holdem ultimate rules.

Amir Lehavot is the most successful poker pro, in terms of winnings, to come out of Israel. The Miami Beach resident won a WSOP Argosy casino buffet kansas city mo. bracelet in 2011, and made the final table of the main event in 2013. He now has more than $5.7 million in career live tournament earnings.

Other notable Israeli poker pros include Rafi Amit, Zvi Stern, Timur Margolin, and Asi Moshe. Israel has 12 WSOP bracelet wins in total, which is good for eighth among all countries.

While you may not have ever considered the idea of Israeli poker before now, there are actually quite a few famous and well known players who hail from Israel and have seen a lot of success. You can find plenty of places to play the game in this country, where the pros hone their skills to make sure that they are ready to take on the world. You can also play online if you are visiting the country yourself, as you can find some of the best deals and table limits here, as well as the chance to take part in poker tournaments on a global scale without ever leaving your hotel room.

There are a few big names in Israeli poker that you ought to get acquainted with when you are looking to play the game in this country. David Levi is certainly one of them, a former paratrooper and soccer player who was born in Tel Aviv but now lives in Las Vegas to be close to all of the really major casinos in the world and the tournaments that go on inside them. He has won nearly $3 million in live poker tournaments to date, making him an incredibly successful player overall, with more than $360,000 of that won in the World Series of Poker against the world’s top professional players. He even once defeated the World Poker Tournament Champion Alan Goehring, and has won the $3100 No Limit Hold’em Event at the Bellagio.

Israeli Poker Championship 2019

Party poker welcome bonus code. Another notable winner poker player from Israel would be Eliahu Ilan Elezra, known more commonly as Eli Ezan or Mr Vegas, as player who also now lives in Las Vegas to be at the heart of the international poker community. He was a lieutenant in the Golani Brigade when he was injured in the leg, forcing him to start playing poker while he was unable to walk for entertainment, something which developed into a true talent and passion. He has won a World Poker Tour event in the 2004 championship, where he won over $1 million for that single event, and also holds a World Series of Poker bracelet for the Seven Card Stud Hi-Low after defeating Scotty Nguyen heads up in 2007, with his career live tournament winnings being in excess of $2 million so far.

Another Israeli player you should know the name of is Rafi Amait, born in Holon, who has played a few times in the World Series of Poker. Although his career earnings may not be as impressive as the other two, he is nevertheless often to be seen at WSOP matches, with eight money finishes to his name and two bracelets – one in 2005 for Omaha, and one in 2007 for Deuce to Seven Triple Draw Lowball.

Poker In Israel

Now that you know a few of the really key figures of Israeli poker, you can play more confidently with the knowledge that you have concerning the country. Perhaps if you are lucky enough you might come across the chance to play against one of them!